High School… one of the most frightening phenomena of life. Everyone trying to fit in and be different… yet the same. Some people see it as an adventure to take part in, some people see it as a burden to get through, some even see it as a fun ride to ride in. But for me, I see high school quite differently.
I have grown up very differently from the rest of the kids I went to school with. My priorities and interests are very unique. The first thing I do when I enter a room is look at the floor, to make sure it is accessible. Imagine having a friend who would inspect the floor of your classroom every time you all would enter a classroom. Only if people were more aware of what I was looking for and why I am inspecting the floor.
Similarly, I have a friend who takes part in various activities for spreading awareness on Tobacco and Mental Health. Her experiences makes her perspective in high school different as well. She is more caring and more cautious when it comes to interacting with her peers. She understands what people can go through and what they may need as a friend from her. But many overlook that fact and treat her differently because of her attitude. They do not always have positive things to say to her. Only if people were more aware of why she is who she is.
Likewise, many teenagers go through facial breakdowns and develope a lot of acne during their time in high school. They are no different from everyone else, but are facing a very natural problem in life. Yet, many high schoolers feel the need to cover up themselves with various makeup to hide their facial “imperfections” as they consider it.
High school is different for everyone. Everyone has their different story. It is very important to accept it and learn from it.
There are many things that you can do to make your environment more inclusive and these are a few ways to start with.
- Posters can only do so much, but advocating for acceptance and inclusiveness is a great way to start
- Take part in events where people come together, create, and share
- Change school events where everyone is included
- Acknowledge and respect anyone and try to understand what they are going through
Through creating a more inclusive environment and a better place for everyone, high school will be a lot more enjoyable as an experience.
